Comparison

ACR Product App vs Cortex Onboard

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

ACR Product App

Access Class B AIS and Emergency PLB/EPIRB data. View live AIS targets, check distress beacon details, and monitor battery status via NFC or WiFi. Configure your AIS with vessel information.

Highlights
  • View live AIS targets
  • Check PLB/EPIRB distress beacon details
  • Monitor beacon operation time and battery condition via NFC
  • Configure Class B AIS with vessel details via WiFi
  • Access ACR CB2 WiFi connection for AIS data
Features
Read full description

The ACR App allows easy access to Class B AIS and Emergency PLB/EPIRB information. Live AIS targets can be displayed as well as Test and Ownership details for Distress Beacons. NFC (Near Field Communication) allows access to ResQLink AIS PLB and GlobalFix V5 details where operation time, Battery condition and test results can be easily checked and displayed on a mobile device. The use of NFC ensures that maximum battery capacity can be ensured giving you confidence that a Beacon will give maximum performance when required in an emergency situation. WiFi connection to the ACR CB2 gives access to live AIS target data along with status and performance details. Initial configuration with vessel details for the CB2 Class B AIS is also carried out via the WiFi connection.

About

Cortex Onboard

This app allows you to configure and update your marine electronics from your mobile device. Monitor vessel data, receive alerts, and manage features like Anchor Watch from anywhere on board.

Highlights
  • Configure and update Cortex devices
  • View AIS information and alerts
  • Manage Anchor Watch
  • Monitor vessel sensors
  • Connect NMEA 2000 instruments
Read full description

Cortex Onboard is free with your Cortex. Use it to configure your Cortex Hub and download updates to your Cortex devices with new features and improvements. You can also use Cortex Onboard to receive and manage alerts, view AIS information and instrument data anywhere on board your boat. View out-of-the-box sensors or NMEA 2000 networked instruments. - Setup is easy and free. - Use Cortex Onboard to configure and update your Cortex devices easily. - View AIS information and receive alerts on board direct to your device. - Manage Anchor Watch from the palm of your hand anywhere on board. - Use the Cortex Hub’s built-in sensors for battery level, barometric pressure and boat position. - Connect your Cortex Hub to NMEA 2000, or an external sensor, to add monitoring for wind, depth, bilge high water, temperature, shore power or security. - The Cortex Hub supports up to 10 WiFi devices (includes Handsets).

Screenshots

ACR Product App4 screens
Cortex Onboard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Cortex Onboard at 3.8 against ACR Product App's 1.5. Cortex Onboard also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 22%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cortex Onboard holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of ACR Product App's written reviews are positive against 56% of Cortex Onboard's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 7, 2026 and June 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
ACR Product App versus Cortex Onboard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterACR Product AppCortex Onboard
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.5 (31 ratings)3.8 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews21.7% of reviews55.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings31 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB376 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOcean Signal LimitedGarmin New Zealand Ltd

Customer experience

ACR Product App

All ratings25 ratings
Positive4.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative96.0%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive21.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative78.3%

Cortex Onboard

All ratings12 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral11.1%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

ACR Product App

No in-app purchases

None

Cortex Onboard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ACR Product App free?
ACR Product App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cortex Onboard free?
Cortex Onboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ACR Product App or Cortex Onboard?
Cortex Onboard is rated higher. ACR Product App averages 1.5 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Cortex Onboard averages 3.8 from 12 ratings.
Do ACR Product App or Cortex Onboard have ads?
Neither ACR Product App nor Cortex Onboard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ACR Product App or Cortex Onboard?
ACR Product App ships an update every 2 months, and Cortex Onboard every 2 months. Most recently, ACR Product App was updated on August 7, 2026 and Cortex Onboard on June 7, 2026.

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